By Jonathan Nkungu
WHERE DO I START…………………………………
“I don’t have a network”
Most of us use our network quite naturally throughout our lives.
We ask for
and receive help and advice from people we know, in virtually every aspect of our lives – we just don’t think about it. We ask for advice when we are considering buying a car, going on holiday, starting an education, finding a home or looking for a partner. You need to be aware of how people in your close and peripheral social circle can help you find work. Many who are unfamiliar with the concept say they don’t have a network that can help them with their job search. You may be one of them. But be aware that your network may prove to be your greatest asset in your search, and could be a shortcut to a new dream job.
and receive help and advice from people we know, in virtually every aspect of our lives – we just don’t think about it. We ask for advice when we are considering buying a car, going on holiday, starting an education, finding a home or looking for a partner. You need to be aware of how people in your close and peripheral social circle can help you find work. Many who are unfamiliar with the concept say they don’t have a network that can help them with their job search. You may be one of them. But be aware that your network may prove to be your greatest asset in your search, and could be a shortcut to a new dream job.
Your social network
We
are all part of multiple networks. Family, neighbours, friends and
acquaintances are all examples of networks. Collectively, they make up
your social network. But this isn’t something we think about on a daily
basis. As mentioned previously, many of us use our social networks
unconsciously, for all sorts of different things. We typically ask for
help with practical things or seek advice when we’re making an important
decision. The classic example is that we often meet our life partners
through our social networks. Another common example is when you’re
considering buying a new car. You’re interested in a Volvo, and since
you know a good friend with one, you ask if she’s satisfied with it,
where she bought it, etc.
Perhaps
your car needs to be repaired and a good friend is a mechanic. It’s
natural to ask him Or you want to make improvements to your home, so you
ask your friend who’s a joiner for advice or may be for help. We all
use our networks for things in life, big and small – but we just don’t
think about it too often. We just do it, and it works well. Now that
you’re looking for a new job, it pays to take a closer look at how to
use your network
Where to start
An
obvious place to start is your social network. Is there anyone in your
family or among your friends who can help you find a job?
They
know you so are able to provide tips and suggestions – e.g. companies
they know or have heard about and where you might want to apply for
work. Perhaps one of them works in a big company where they can give you
the name of someone to whom you could submit an application.
Using social media – Facebook
Social
media are here to stay and they have become a good way of keeping track
of family, friends, colleagues, business partners and others in your
network. You may already have a solid network of friends and
acquaintances on Facebook. Remember that everyone in your network has
his or her own network, of which you are a small part. Most people have
more than 100 Facebook friends. This means that you are one
step
removed from 10,000 potential contacts. You should make use of this
fact. This can be done in several ways. But before you start, you should
look closely at your Facebook friends. For a start, avoid suspicious
types.
• Don’t display photos where you look drunk,
• Where you’re partially undressed or at some wild party or event.
• Be aware of what groups you join, and what they say about you.
• Ask yourself what impression you want to give to a potential employer, and
• What they’d think of you if they looked you up on Facebook.
• This is also a matter of you protecting yourself and your personal life.
Getting started
Start
by making your own network aware that you are looking for a new job.
All this requires is a status update in which you mention that you are
looking for work and would love to e-mail your CV to anybody who is
interested. You can also set up your own page on, e.g. linkedin.com and
post the link on Facebook – preferably with a message to recipients that
they are more than welcome to forward the link to others in their
networks. This is a quick and effective way of spreading the message. A
second, more strategic way to use Facebook is to find insiders – friends
who work at the companies in which you’re interested. Find contacts
that work in the company or maybe know someone who does, and then take
steps to contact them. Ask about the working conditions, what qualities
the company prizes, and whether s/he might be able to put in a good word
for you.
Your professional network
But
there is also another network, consisting of former work colleagues.
This is called your professional network. During your working life, a
large number of people have been colleagues at some level or other.
Experience shows that this particular network is very effective when it
comes to finding a new job. Your professional network consists of:
• Former colleagues
• Former bosses
• People who you know in the sector
• Suppliers
• Collaborators
• Customers.
People
in your professional network know you both professionally and
personally. This means that their recommendation has a higher degree of
credibility and can open many more doors for you in terms of potential
jobs and companies. They can also give you tips and suggestions for your
job search, e.g. suggestions of companies they know or have heard about
where you can submit unsolicited applications. They also have their own
professional and personal networks, so before you know it, you’ll have
expanded your network just by making your circle of friends aware that
you are looking for work and would like tips on who to contact;
How to use your network – LinkedIn
LinkedIn
is another virtual network for the more career-minded. Here, you can
set up a profile and upload your CV. Many employers and recruitment
companies use it when searching for candidates for a vacancy.
Think
of it as a folder containing electronic business cards. The brilliant
thing about LinkedIn is that you can keep track of your contacts. You
will automatically be notified whenever one of your contacts changes job
or position. LinkedIn also acts as an online CV. It is a quick way to
distribute your CV and see those of others, which is useful when
preparing for an interview. You can learn about the person who will be
interviewing you. You can also join trade and professional groups, a
route many have used to find new contacts and job opportunities.
LinkedIn
Another
important function is the option to recommend someone. It may be your
former boss or a colleague. It always looks good in the eyes of
potential employers if you have been recommended. Headhunters and
recruitment companies are also extremely active on LinkedIn
Recommendation
Although
many believe that “all’s fair in war, love and job-hunting”, you must
remember to comply with the rules and norms. Don’t claim to have titles,
degrees or diplomas you don’t have – and make sure the ones you do have
are from recognized colleges or universities. Remember that your former
colleagues and classmates are watching.
Getting started
If you are not already on www.linkedin.com
click on the link and register. If you are already signed up and have
contacts, update your profile. You may want to signify that you are
looking for a job, and list your expectations for a new post. This will
automatically be sent to your contacts when you next update your status.
You can also send messages directly to your contacts, stating your
wishes and expectations for the future.
You
can also use LinkedIn as a search engine. You can search for specific
companies, see who works there and compare their qualifications to your
own. You can also search for new contacts. All you need is a name or
e-mail address. Join trade and professional groups or forums within your
work area. Here, you will often find new contacts, and many companies
post job advertisements in these forums. The value of a network is not
only a question of the number of people you know and have been in
contact with. It’s also about the quality of these acquaintanceships,
the nature of your relationship with the people in question and, not
least, the positions they occupy. In other words, whether the person
will be able to open doors for you.
When
you first make contact with people in your network, ask if you can pop
in for a short meeting or call them on the phone. Say you are between
jobs and tell them about what kind of work you’re looking for. Also,
talk briefly about your background and qualifications, and give them
your CV and phone number. You may even want to order some business cards
online, which you can easily hand out when you meet someone who could
be useful to you.
Ask
them if they have any ideas for things you can do, or suggestions about
who to contact with a view to submitting unsolicited applications or
establishing contact with a company in some other way. Ask if they’ll be
willing to provide advice throughout your search for a new job We also
recommend that look at the following guide if you want more information
about using LinkedIn http://learn.linkedin.com/new-users/
“I don’t like contacting people I know”
For
various reasons, many jobseekers don’t like contacting someone they
know and asking for help. Maybe you’re one of those who think it’s
embarrassing or outside of your comfort zone – or maybe you just don’t
like to be any hassle. But remember that most people are basically
friendly and helpful, as long as you approach them in the right way.
Think back to situations where someone has asked you for help and how
you helped out. Weren’t you pleased to help? Nor should you forget that
most of us have actually experienced losing a job, being unemployed and
looking for a new job. They will understand you and your situation
better than you think. They know how hard it is to be in your situation
and how important it is to feel
that
your circle is helping and supporting you in your job search. So rest
assured that they will be pleased to help you. When you contact your
network about jobs, observe the following rules:
Never ask for a job – ask for a suggestion
Never ask a favour – ask for advice
Say, for example:
• “If you hear of a job, please bear me in mind.”
• “I’m looking for a new job. Can you give me some advice?”
• “I’ve been made redundant, so if you hear of anything that might be interesting for me, please let me know.”
Also be aware that a network is based on give and take, so you must be willing to reciprocate later.
Assignment
Everybody
has a much bigger network than they think. Start by drawing up a list
of 40-50 people. This may sound like a lot, but your network will be
much bigger than you think. Evaluate your network The value of a network
is not only a question of the number of people you know and have been
in contact with. It’s also about the quality of those acquaintanceships.
What kind of relationships do you have with these people? Who can
advance your professional development and open doors for you? Divide
them into two groups. Group 1 consists of those who can open the door to
a potential job. Group 2 you delete.
Use your network
Contact the people on your list. Either pop in for a short meeting with them or get in touch by phone.
- Tell them that you are looking for a job and what kind of job you’d like.
- Give the impression that you’re not just passively waiting for the right job to come up but have decided to be proactive.
- Briefly tell them about your background and your qualifications and give them your CV and phone number
- Also tell them about the jobs you’ve already applied for
- Ask for ideas and suggestions for people and companies to contact
- Ask if you can use them as sparring partners.
- Stick to the business at hand – don’t complain about your situation or moan about being made redundant
- Request permission to use them as references.
Discocer how great you can be, Its the time to get hired
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